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Started out warm in the mid fifties and the wind gradually increased from the south and was very strong by the end of the day, so we had a good tailwind on the way back in to town.
My positioning at the start was poor like always, and was slow to respond to the initial surges of the front of the race. I didn't expect the pace to be so high at the beginning so I held back mid pack, and this was a mistake as I was trapped behind slower riders on the first dirt climb that caused separation, and had to work to get back. But I bridged quickly. The steep clay roads were really in bad shape from all the rain we have gotten recently, and were deeply rutted and still quite muddy in spots. Other spots of the ruts were dry as a rock and riding fast in a line through these ruts was scary as one slightly wrong move meant going down.
I narrowly avoided going down on one of these descents when a rider put a wheel slightly wrong and overcorrected while in a rut and actually slammed into my hip, but thankfully I was able to keep it upright and the rider seemed like he was ok(he went down alone) and so I kept on.
The pace at the front didn't let up at all. One of the fast guys was on a narrow tired road bike with perhaps 28s, and he was slower on the downhills and I finally worked my way to the front based on my keen downhill skill and line selection. I was having a lot of trouble seeing obstacles with my glasses all fogged and it not really being bright enough outside for sunglasses...
So on a relatively flat section with the deepest rut we'd seen yet, I was riding behind several riders and managed to get my tire slightly up on the rut, and had to put a foot down. Unfortunately the rider behind me had nowhere to go and no time to stop so we got tangled up and into the mud on top of one another. He picked himself up quickly, but my pump strap had broken and I spent way too much time trying to tape it to my frame with the run of gorilla tape I keep on it, and finally gave that up and threw it in my jersey pocket and got going after about 2 minutes had gone by.
We fell in the mud at the exact wrong time, right before the biggest clay hill on the whole ride, which was to separate the front 6 from the rest, and I wasn't there to respond. What followed at the top was a long flattish section of pavement. So pretty much no chance of getting back on solo, especially since they were going full gas.
I considered just riding my own pace from there but I decided to push hard for a little while in the hopes of catching the guy I crashed, and after a few minutes saw him and another rider in my view. Came up on him and learned that it was Van Mixon, last years winner. I apologized and he seemed ok with it, but it was obvious to both of us that we had no chance to catch back on. The other guy we were with(Shay I think) didn't really want to ride with us, and Van and I traded pulls till the rest stop at the halfway point.
We thought for sure no one was close enough to catch us but just before the stop a group was gaining on us and caught us soon after we stopped. The rest stop was just getting set up when we got there and we learned that the front group didn't have the luxury of a rest stop because they weren't set up yet, bummer for them.
Another rider from the front group had gotten off course, Jeff Clayton, last year's second place, and he rolled in after we'd been there a couple minutes and needed a pump. I was hoping to leave with everybody together but a few people were starting to slowly roll out and after most everyone had rolled out, I left too. Van and Jeff were still there but we rolled out slow and I hoped that they would catch back on. I wanted to ride with a group because there were still a lot of flat miles ahead. The pace lifted pretty quickly and after awhile, Van and Jeff caught back on and we rode fairly well together for awhile.
Everyone was tiring though and it became obvious we had lots of passengers, which was frustrating. Only a few of us would come through for pulls and gaps kept forming, etc. And the thing is, we had a mean tailwind, so the benefits of drafting were lessened greatly. It almost was easier on the front as the tailwind greatly reduced the effort and one could see all the holes and ruts clearly.
We were nearing a store stop and one of the stronger guys(Brett) wanted to stop and a bunch of the other guys agreed to stop as well. The temperature was around 80 at this point and with the tailwind we were all using more water than planned. Another rider caught on while we were there and we left after about 5 minutes. I didn't get any water as I still had lots left and only 24 miles left to ride(I carried 3 1 liter bottles).
Soon after this we finally got back onto some real hills, and I got a separation on a hill without meaning to and just decided to push on myself. I was tired as hell but pushed on anyway. Held off Jeff for a few miles till he caught and passed me right away, as I had nothing left. Thankfully most everyone else was out of sight and was able to hold them off through the hills to the finish, and finished in a respectable 7th overall.
It was definitely harder than last year due mostly to my crash and the fragmented groups on the road, but I had a ton of fun, and as always, would never push myself so hard on a solo ride. And thanks again to the Blue Goose for allowing us to shower and was off our bikes.
By: | WTR4 |
Started in: | Irwinton, GA, US |
Distance: | 123.7 mi |
Selected: | 123.7 mi |
Elevation: | + 5438 / - 5437 ft |
Moving Time: | 06:40:34 |
Gear: | 2009 Lynskey Pro Cross |
Page Views: | 58 |
Departed: | Feb 17, 2018, 7:15 am |
Starts in: | Irwinton, GA, US |
Distance: | 123.7 mi |
Selected distance: | 123.7 mi |
Elevation: | + 5438 / - 5437 ft |
Max Grade: | |
Avg Grade | |
Cat | |
FIETS | |
VAM | |
Ascent time | |
Descent time | |
Total Duration: | 06:53:45 |
Selection Duration: | 24825 |
Moving Time: | 06:40:34 |
Selection Moving Time: | 06:40:34 |
Stopped Time: | 00:13:11 |
Calories: | 5290 |
Max Watts: | |
Avg Watts: | 220 |
WR Power | |
Work | |
Max Speed: | 39.3 mph |
Avg Speed: | 18.5 mph |
Pace: | 00:03:20 |
Moving Pace: | 00:03:14 |
Best format for turn-by-turn directions on modern Garmin Edge Devices
Best format for turn by turn directions on Edge 500, 510. Will provide true turn by turn navigation on Edge 800, 810, 1000, Touring including custom cue entries. Great for training when we release those features. Not currently optimal for Virtual Partner.
Useful for uploading your activity to another service, keeping records on your own computer etc.
Useful for any GPS unit. Contains no cuesheet entries, only track information (breadcrumb trail). Will provide turn by turn directions (true navigation) on the Edge 705/800/810/1000/Touring, but will not have any custom cues. Works great for Mio Cyclo. Find GPS specific help in our help system.
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